Wheel flange and rail lubricator



Oct. 30, 1934, .1. o. MADISON 1,978,906

WHEEL FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR KJbHH/ amalgam Oct. 30, 1934. J. o. MADISON 1,978,906

WHEEL FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed Jan. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 16 ohm OJfQZZL SOH O BY d ATTOREEY Patented Oct. 30, 1%34 UNITED STATES WHEEL FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATQR John 0. Madison, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Chiilingworth Manufacturing Company, Jersey Gity, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 12, 1934, Serial No. 706,344

18 Claims.

This invention relates to wheel flange and rail lubricators.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- 'vide simple and durable means for efficiently applying lubricant to the flanges of rolling car wheels preparatory to their travel along the curve rails, including guard rails, or" a railroad track, to the end that a film of oil shall be carried by the wheel flanges and distributed thereby upon the opposing side or sides of the curved rail heads in such manner as to prevent excessive friction between the contacting surfaces, thus obviating objectionable noises and also reducing the wear on the rail heads and wheel flanges under service conditions.

Other subsidiary objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, a trough of suitable length, Meter- 0 mined by the circumference of the wheel flange to be lubricated) is arranged alongside a rail immediately preceding the curve thereof, which trough is of sufiicient capacity, either in itself or through additional supply means, to ensure the delivery of the requisite quantity of oil for lubrication during a predetermined period. Within the trough is supported a longitudinally extending body of absorbent material, such, for example, as wick ing, which rises above the trough and presents to the path of the rolling wheel flange a laterally-resilient contact surface or surfaces eifective to apply oil progressively to the flange. The absorbent material is sustained throughout the length of the trough by inherently resilient frame structures. At the respective ends of these structures are longitudinally-projecting laterally-deflected members which afford flaring entrances for the approaching wheel flange, thus insuring the initial guidance and spreading of the absorbent material by the entering flange against the elasticity of the frame structures.

The invention also comprises features of construction and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described and the scope of Fig. 4 is a vertical section, as on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of a railroad track equipped with lubricators adjacent the respective rails at the approach to a curve.

Fig. 6 is a slightly modified form of the apparatus for efficiently applying lubricant to one side only of the wheel flange.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates an elongated lubricant container or trough compris- 65. ing a bottom, sides and ends, which container is illustrated as arranged adjacent and longitudinally of the inner side of a track rail 11 at the approach to a curve having a guard rail 110. In the present instance the outer wall 12 of the container is upwardly extended and bolted at its respective ends on suitably-spaced angle brackets 13 affixed to the adjacent cross-ties, a spacer bar 130 being interposed between the other wall and the rail.

A plurality of rows of bolt holes 14 in different planes are preferably formed in the upstanding member of each of the brackets, so that by entering the bolts 15 in the upper or lower row of holes, the trough and its appurtenances can be positioned at different levels in respect to the top of the adjacent rail head, as desired.

At the bottom of the trough is arranged a pipe 16 which extends medially of the trough throughout substantially the length of the latter, which pipe is securely, yet detachably, held in place by a series of spring clips 17 fastened at intervals upon the bottom of the trough. This pipe communicates at its ends by means of pipe connections 19 with an oil reservoir 20 which is conveniently supported above the road bed and in proximity to the trough by means of U-bolts 21 mounted in the upstanding members of angle brackets 22 which are associated with the brackets 13. Each of the connections 19 includes a suitable coupling 23 whereby the connection can be detachably jointed to the adjacent end of the pipe 16, and it also includes a suitably-disposed valve 24 effective to open or close the connection in order to permit or check the flow of oil from the reservoir to the trough as occasion may require. The reservoir is provided with an outwardly extending oil supply pipe 240 whereby the reservoir can be re-- plenished from a remote point.

The oil reservoir 20 and its connections 19 with the pipe 16 may be omitted, removed or replaced, as desired, in which case the trough can be directly supplied with oil in any suitable manner as requirements may demand.

The pipe 16, which, in the present instance, is

- and provided at intervals throughout its length with suitable orifices 160 for the discharge of oil, supports throughout its length a succession of spaced pairs of upstanding inherently elastic supporting members 25 which rise above the level of the oil within the trough and somewhat below the top of the adjacent rail head. Each pair'of members is preferably composed of a single piece of spring metal of substantially U-formation, the base thereof embracing and closely hugging the pipe so as to have capacity for limited rocking movement about an axis longitudinally of the pipe.

The succession of spring supporting legs on each side of the pipe are connected at their upper ends by a longitudinally extending spring-metal strip 26 which is welded or otherwise firmly secured to each of the legs. This strip terminates in longitudinally-twisted laterally-deflected eX- tensions 2'? which project beyond the respective ends of the trough, and which extensions are preferably separate spring members also welded or otherwise firmly united to the respective strips. The complementary'spring extensions thus afford at each end of the trough a flaring entrance to the space between the spaced longitudinal strips 26, the sides of which entrance, upon the impact thereon of the flange of an approaching wheel, effectually guide and aline the adjacent spring supports to position one leg and its longitudinal strip on each side of the flange in any lateral positionthat the flange in its travel may assume in relation to the adjacent side of the rail head.

The upstanding U-shaped spring members 25 their associated longitudinal connecting strips 26 "constitute, in effect, two juxtaposed inherentlyeelastic skeleton frames which extend longitudinally of the-trough, such strips 26 being maintained normally in spaced parallel relation above the trough by the inherent elasticity of the spring members. The pipe 16, togetherwith the associated frames, can be readily applied to or removed from the supporting clips 17 within the trough. I

Each of the skeleton frames is provided throughout its length with a covering of absorbent material 28, such as felt or wicking, which depends into the oil contents of the trough so as tofeed oil effectively to the upper portions of the covering enveloping the strip 26.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the fabric is folded upon and along the skeleton frames to provide an M-shaped covering which embraces the upper edges and inner and outer sides of the francs, and includes inner converging folds 29 extending into the oil contents of the trough, and also two outer lateral folds 30 depending loosely into the contained oil.

From the foregoing described construction and organization it will be seen that when a car wheel approaches the railroad curve adjacent to which the structure is mounted, the flange of the wheel passes to and between the opposing flaring extensions 27 at the entranceend of the trough, and thus bears against the opposing sides throughout its length by saldstructures so as of the extensions in a manner effectually to guide and aline the proximate portions of the skeleton structures with respect to the path of the wheel flange and thereby efliciently position such portions at the respective sides of the flange in any lateral relation to the adjacent rail head that the flange may occupy in its travel. The flange, as the wheel progresses above the trough and toward the track curve, rolls between and is uniformly and. snugly embraced by the springpressed oil containing fabric on the upper portions of the skeleton frame structures. As a result the fabric effectually applies a film of oil to and throughout a circumferential area on the respective sides of the flange, and consequently one or the other side of the wheel flange carries its oil film to the opposing side of the head of the contiguous curve rail, or guard rail of the track as the case may be, thus preventing excessive friction between the contacting flange and rail surfaces, as previously mentioned.

; The outer acting surfaces of the oil-applying fabric with which the wheel flange comes in contact during its travel, are provided with an interstitial metal covering 31 which serves to protect, the fabric from severe abrasive action by the flange, andalso yields to the progressing lateral pressure thereon of the flange to permit the free exudation of the oil from the fabric to and against the contacting surfaces of the flange. This protective covering in the form shown comprises a series of substantially parallel wires, (such as are commonly used for belt jointing) disposed diagonally in narrowly-spaced relation along the oil applying surfaces of the fabric throughout its length.

By the provision of the flaring extensions at the respective ends of the troughlubricators can be mounted adjacent the respective ends of a curved track to effect the lubrication of the wheel flange as it approaches the curve from either direction. Moreover, two of the structures can be applied to the respective sides of the track adjacent the curve, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to lubricate the'flange of-the-outer travelling Wheel as well as that of the inner wheel to meet the requirementsof succeeding curvatures of the track.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 of the draw ings, the oil-applying fabric is omitted from the skeleton frame strip 26 adjacentthe rail so that oil is applied only to the area of the wheel flange by the fabric on the other frame strip, inwhich case the uncovered strip merely presses against the opposing face of the. flange in a manner to contribute to and insure the effective contact with the other flange face of the oil-applying fabric of the covered frame strip. This construction is preferably used in connection with trackways in which the curvature of a guard rail and its location are such that only the back face of the flange impinges against the head of the guard rail, While the gauge of the rails is such that the other wheel flange does not bear against theouter curve rail.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited.- to the particular exemplifying forms thereof herein disclosed, as the structural details may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

l. A lubricant applying device embodying two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of and laterally adjacent a rail. and. movable toward and from each other, andabsorbent material supported and reinforced resiliently to embrace both sides of a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, and meansfor supplying oil tosaid material.

2. A lubricant applying device embodying. two

juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures exsorbent material covering said members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, and means for supplying oil to said material.

A lubricant applying device embodying two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of and laterally adjacent a rail and movable toward and from each other, said structures comprising a series of spaced U- shaped spring elements fast at their lower ends, and longitudinally extending strip members uniting the upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements, absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, and means for supplying oil to said material.

l. A lubricant applying device embodying two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of and laterally adjacent a rail and movable toward and from each other, said structures comprising a series of spaced U- shaped spring elements fast at their lower ends, and longitudinally extending strip members uniting the upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements and terminating in flared extensions, absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, and means for supplying oil to said material.

5. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, and absorbent material extending longitudinally of the container and supported and reinforced throughout its length by said structure in the path of a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

6. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of the container and movable toward and from each other, and absorbent material extending longitudinally or" the container and supported and reinforced throughout its length by the respective .structures so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

7. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, said structure including at its upper portion a longitudinally extending strip member, and absorbent material covering said 1 strip member and supported and reinforced thereby in the path of a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

8. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, two juxtaposed upstanding re: silient structures extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, said structures including at their respective upper portions lon- 1 gitudinally extending strip members, and absorbent material covering said members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

9. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and comprising a series of spaced upstanding spring members having their lower ends secured at the bottom of the container, and a longitudinally extending strip uniting the upper ends of members, and absorbent material covering said strip member and supported and reinforced thereby in the path of a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

10. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures comprising a series of spaced U- shaped spring elements having their lower ends secured at the bottom of the container, and longitudinally extending strip members uniting the upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements, and absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

ll. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, a supporting member arranged at and longitudinally of the bottom of the container, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures comprising a series of U-shaped spring elements snugly embracing said supporting member at intervals throughout its length, and longitudinally extending strip members uniting the upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements, and absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

12. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, said structures including at their respective upper portions longitudinally extending strip members terminating in flared end extensions, and absorbent material covering said members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

13. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein for movement toward and from each other, said structures comprising a series of spaced U-shaped spring elements having their lower ends secured at the bottom of the container, and longitudinally ex-- tending strip members uniting the upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements and terminating in flared extensions, and absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

l l. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, a rigid supporting member arranged at and longitudinally of the bottom of the container, two juxtaposed upstanding resilient structures comprising a series of U-shaped spring elements snugly embracing said support- Bill member at intervals throughout its length, and longitudinally extending strip members unitthe upper ends of the succeeding legs on the respective sides of the spring elements and terminating in flared end extensions, and absorbent material covering said strip members and supported and reinforced thereby so as resiliently to embrace a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

15. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, a pipe arranged at and longitudinally of the bottom of the container, said pipe having oil discharge orifices at points throughout its length, means for supplying oil to, said pipe, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and supported at its base by pipe, and absorbent material extending longitudinally the container and supported and reinforced throughout its length by said structure in the path of a wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container.

16. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, spaced clips on the bottom of the container, a rigid supporting member extending longitudinally of the container and detachably held by said clips, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and mounted at its base on. said supporting member, and absorbent material extending longitudinally of the container and supported and reinforced throughout its length by said structure in the path or" a wheel flange as it trav els along the rail, said material depending into the container.

17. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, absorbent material extending longitudinally of the container and supported and reinforced throughout its length by said struc ture in the path of a Wheel flange as it travels along the rail, said material depending into the container, and interstitial protective armor for the surfaces of the absorbent material with which the flange comes in contact.

13. A lubricant applying device embodying an elongated lubricant container arranged laterally adjacent a rail, an upstanding resilient structure extending longitudinally of the container and supported therein, absorbent material extending 

